207 posts in the last 30 days

I am having a hard time with newer RCs. With older ones (( PT60), I can often find a clearer correspondence between a correct answer and the supporting lines. With newer RC passages, the Answer choices really stumped me. There seems no correct answers! Because I cannot find A correct answer, I often struggle with one question for a long time and had to rush the rest of questions/passages.(/p)

Any tips?

A related question is that I see a couple of people mentioned fool-proof RCs. Fool-proofing method for LG worked really well for me, so I am thinking to try out this method for RC. Did it work for you, especially with newer RCs? Thanks.

2

Hi Everyone,

I've been going back to the core curriculum to brush up on a few things, and I realized that I rely more on what JY calls the "carve-out" method of dealing with embedded conditionals rather than the translation. (It just feels more intuitive for me.) But as I was trying to match up my "carve-out" understanding with the translations JY does, I ended up with a few questions.

Here's the link to the CC lesson with the example I'm considering: https://classic.7sage.com/lesson/mastery-embedded-conditional/

"If the seeds are planted in the winter, then flowers will not blossom unless fertilizer is applied."

JY draws these two statements using the "and" translation:

SPW and FB -> FA

SPW and /FA -> /FB

So I like to think about this by relying heavily on the "unless" factor at the end:

  • If fertilizer is applied, then I have to negate (SPW -> /FB) into (SPW -> FB). [FA -> (SPW -> FB)]
  • If fertilizer is NOT applied, then the "carve-out" exception to the rule doesn't hold, so the relationship is still (SPW -> /FB).
  • My question is, aren't JY's statements (and my own) supposed to be biconditionals? For example:

  • FA -> (SPW -> FB)
  • /FA -> (SPW -> /FB) the contrapositive is (SPW -> FB) -> FA
  • So together, FA (-) (SPW ->FB)

    Because right now, in JY's statements, if I know fertilizer is applied (FA), nothing happens. If I plug in FA, then it fulfills the necessary for the first translation and fails the sufficient for the second. But isn't it true that if FA, then it must be true that if seeds are planted in the winter, that the flowers will blossom?

    0

    Hi! So studying for July 15, finished the CC here and now drilling with the free Khan Academy materials (and to simulate digital testing), doing 1 PT/wk., but increasing to 2/wk at the 3 month mark, then at 1.5months out doing 3/wk.

    PT scores are 167, 170, 175, 167, 166 for PTs 36-40, respectively.

    I generally average -4 on LR (though this can be affected by if I'm mentally weariness/clarity), LG -4 (miscellaneous games kill me when they emerge), and RC -4.

    Thoughts on how to move fwd? I want to clear 170 on test day, dreaming of NYU ED acceptance. UGPA 4.0 and in a MA program in the MENA region currently.

    Pls help with any tips you have.

    0

    Is it ok to br rc right after pt?

    I read that I should br within 24hrs, but it seems I'd remember stuff much more if I br right away.

    What's better? br right after or do it after two days? It takes me whole day to br lr and lg, and by the end of it I get really tired. So it's either I br rc right after pt or do it two days after...

    0

    This has come up briefly before on the forums, but I wanted to ask more about chaining biconditionals rather than splitting. On PT 54 game 1, because I wasn't on point with my understanding of biconditionals, I tried to chain up the first two rules with the rest, and it ended up being a total mess. I was super confused, whereas when I came back to it and just split the board and got rid of the biconditional it was a lot easier.

    I think there are times where chaining biconditionals is helpful, but my real question is, do we then have to write two versions of it when trying to read the chain? Because biconditionals can be /A (-) B or A (-) /B, (and the other two for "always together"), I find it pretty hard to read the chains. How do you guys go about this / is it ever really THAT helpful? It seems like if a biconditional comes up on an in-out game, it's always better to split it?

    Also if you know of any games that use chaining biconditionals, that would be helpful!

    0

    Hey guys so im retaking the lsat in September 2019. I scored pretty bad in the Feb 2018** test then took a year off because I just didnt feel good enough. But after much time off, I just feel like I could do so much better! I scored a 150 and honestly my problem is with LR ! If I was untimed which I know is of zero value, I get -3/4 but add time and boom -9/10 per LR section. For logic Games, Its actually my strongest section averaging about -2/3 per section. I am aiming for 168–170 because my top choice is Fordham Law School (3.8 gpa) and Boston College. Im studying about an 1-2 hours everyday sometimes more depending on work and schedule! Any tips? is it doable? I used blueprint last time, and it was a great course but very fast in my opinion. I am currently using the bibles, I like the question breakdown and details but I also have the trainer that ill be using as well. I have about 5.5 months. Also if anyone needs an accountability or online study partner, I’m so interested:) any tips/study suggestions are welcome?

    1

    Admin - please delete if not allowed

    Hello! I just complete the March LSAT and honestly miss practicing LG. I figured since I continue to practice them daily that I would offer private tutoring for anyone struggling with foundational LG skills. I consistently finish this section with -0 and would like to help others get to that point as well!

    I wouldn't charge anything for 7sagers, but if anyone knows any websites that I could post about this tutoring service and actually get paid that would be great!

    2

    "Jack must be diligent and smart because without these traits he is doomed to fail"

  • /Diligent or /Smart ---> Fail
  • Meaning: If Jack is not diligent or smart then it guarantees he will fail.

    As this is a OR statement Jack can be the following below to trigger him Failing

  • Diligent and /Smart
  • /Diligent and Smart
  • /Diligent and /Smart
  • /Fail --> Diligent and Smart (Contrapositive)
  • Meaning: If Jack doesn't fail then he must be both Diligent and Smart.

    I have been trying to make up more difficult sentences to diagram into lawgic to help my understanding but have been a bit confused with this. Would really appreciate it if someone can correct me if I have messed up in anyway thank you so much in advance!

    0

    Hi All,

    I know this question has been asked numerous times, but with only a bit of time left before the June exam, I wanted to ask a question about the older LR questions with specific examples. I've started using the LR sections in the 20s because they're still relatively fresh (might have seen one or two questions but not all per section), but my scores have been declining and in my BR I get a little frustrated with the questions themselves. While at the end of the day, I accept the answers for what they are, my biggest gripe is that they just feel vague in a manner that doesn't fly in the newer exams? I bring this question up because 1) if the consensus is that these questions are good to practice in the PT stage then I'll keep doing them or 2) if these questions are considered a bit dated, then I'll probably use the rest of my time on solely the newer PTs (60+).

    Here are a few examples of what I might mean:

    28.1.7

    The answer here just felt really poorly written?

    28.3.15

    I understand that "enjoy" here could be understood as "made happy" but again, still doesn't feel as precise to me.

    28.3.17

    While it's the best answer given, it just feels weird that you're allowed to assume that working for ten years means you don't have anything left to gain from training. It seems like a fair enough assumption, but one I feel would be punished in the newer exams?

    0

    https://classic.7sage.com/lesson/preptest-69/

    I am retaking this PT and I really struggled with this passage. In particular, I have trouble understanding the difference between studies being debunked vs. studies giving two opposing facts.

    I have come to understand that two ideas being opposite of one another does not lend credence to one theory at the dispense of another. This is reasoning was distilled in me by certain flaw questions that do precisely this. In this passage, we are told that person #1 states there are only 13 plants. Person #2 states there are hundreds of these plants (or only 13). Now, what else is there in this passage that would make the reader assume that #2 person is right, #1 is wrong and not the other way around? The author picking one side over the other is where I disagree incredibly.

    The passage is difficult if one doesn't understand that the author thinks the dodo theory is BS. If one doesn't understand this, then they come out of this passage with the wrong idea that there are two opposing views and one shouldn't commit a flaw and pick one to be more right than another. This is exactly the way I was thinking. Questions #22, 24, 26 and 27 all rely on the subtle tone/view the author has---dodo theory is not the cause of the nonexistent phenomena.

    Maybe LSAC got around this flawed territory by describing the author committing the flaw, then simply asking us questions about what the author thinks rather then what actually is the case.

    My question is when are we logically right to choose one fact over another given the small amount of information in the passage? Yes, the author might have chosen a side, but is it right to throw logic out the window and go along with what the author thinks? Is it even possible that that an author can commit a flaw in an RC passage?

    Thank you for reading.

    Edit: I can see now where the author includes "the foremost expert on the plant ecology of Mauritius." So, the author's reason would be credibility I suppose. While it does help a bit when picking between two, it surly doesn't support the notion of the idea now being a "fact" as the author concludes.

    Admin note: edited title

    https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-69-section-3-passage-4-passage/

    https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-69-section-3-passage-4-questions/

    0

    I'm having a really difficult time eliminating answer choice E) in this one. I I chose this during timed, switched to the credited response C) during BR. C) is stated in an unambiguous fashion in paragraph 4. I understand why the author would agree with this but why is E) wrong? I've read multiple explanations online yet I'm still stuck.

    Since the passage states that "mirrors are an exception to the fairly reliable equation between our perceptions and their associated mental constructs," aren't reflections in mirrors to be mental constructs interfering with an accurate understanding of how primary perceptions function? Is it wrong because of the word primary? Mental constructs are what encourage us to focus on imagined, false images, which hampers our understanding of real perceptions. That's my understanding...

    Please help!

    Admin note: edited title

    https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-71-section-4-passage-4-passage/

    https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-71-section-4-passage-4-questions/

    0

    Are these two sentences mean the same thing?

    Some people do not enjoy the movie.

    Not all people enjoy the movie.

    I wonder if "not all" and "some not" are interchangeable.

    Thank you!

    0

    Hello evereyone!

    I just took the International LSAT and was wondering if anyone who has taken it wanted to sahre some info.

    I took it Seoul on the 31st.

    I had RC-LR-LG-LR-RC

    I dont recall so well what passages were in the first RC but its compartive passages were about democracy and one of the passages had South Korea and Chile as example countries...

    The other one had passages like...

    dogs and human cues...(edited)

    Native American Indian art and the artist Howe

    a book about Notorious Woman( legal cases concerning a woman who found out her biological father rich and claimed her right for the inheritance)

    compartive passages about monopoly and European Union competition law....

    Nothing particular comes to my mind with regard to LRs...

    For LG,

    one of the games was about a concert with the piano and violin as one of instruments 6people had to play

    The other one I remember is about accountants(?) who come to work to print or to verify....

    I would appreciate it if someone could tell me which RC was the dummy...

    Thanks!

    0

    Hi 7sagers, I am finishing up my master program and April is the exam season in England... I have 4 final essays and 2 final exams which all count 100 percent of the grade on each class. (Yes it is ridiculous) They are all due/happening in April! However, I registered the June 22rd LSAT and wondering if you have any strategies time management? Should I only focus on school work and give up this whole month on LSAT preps and work on the preps in May and June? Or should I do half and half which might be hard for me to switch modes... Any suggestions will be appreciated! Thanks!

    0

    Hey 7Sagers,

    Here's the official March 2019 LSAT Discussion Thread.

    **Please keep all discussions of the March 2019 LSAT here!**(/red)

    Rules:

    You can identify experimental sections. 🙆‍♀️

    You can say things such as the following:

  • I had two LGs! Was the LG with "flowers" real or experimental?
  • I had two RCs! Was the section that starts with the honeybee passage real?
  • I had three LRs! Does anyone know if the first LR section with the goose question is real?”
  • You can't discuss specific questions. 🙅‍♂️

    You CANNOT say things such as the following:

  • Hey, the 3rd LG was sequencing and the last one was In/Out, right?” (Don't mention the game type)
  • The last question in the first LR section was a lawgic heavy MBT! Was the answer (B)?” (Don't mention the question type or ask what the answer was)
  • What was the answer for the last question of RC? I think it was an inference question? Was the answer (C)?” (Don't mention the question type or ask what the answer was)
  • Have fun discussing!

    1

    Alright, I'm not sure if I should be worried about this question too much as I hope (and have heard) that the newer tests are much more logically rigorous. Anyway, hear me out on this one...

    This is a "Weaken Except Question" and we are given a fairly basic argument.

    P1: Our neighborhood already has the most residents per [recreation] center of any neighborhood in the city.

    P2: Access to recreational facilities is a necessity for this neighborhood

    C: Closing this center is unacceptable

    Assumptions I noticed: Does most residents per captia here mean that all of them actually use the facility? What if the neighborhood is comprised of people who don't use it?

    AC:

    B weakens the argument. If children, who are the main users of the center, are less populous in this neighborhood then we have more reason to close the center/have more reason to believe that it isn't a necessity.

    C kind of weakens as we don't know what the subjective term "often" means.

    D weakens because it does the same thing as B and C. These three AC are almost like a package because they all essentially argue the same thing - that the rec center is underutilized and that the conclusion (closing the center is unacceptable) is more likely to be falsified.

    So we are down to A and E. This is where my trouble began. I looked at A and thought that it strengthens the argument. Well, it does and it doesn't. If the term "their locality" is taken to mean "their city limits" then yes, this strengthens the argument. However, if the term "their locality" is taken to mean "the residents homes" then this would weaken the argument as it implies that the residents wouldn't be able to leave their homes to go to the center, and thus essentially do the same thing as B, C, and D.

    The real issue is with E though...

    E states, "As people become more involved in computers and computer games, rec centers are becoming increasingly less important".

    Ummm... If this was used in an actual argument in my philosophy class it would get laughed out. First, this AC assumes that the people in the stimulus are actually able to gain access to, and competently use computers. What if this is an Amish neighborhood? Well this AC doesn't work. What if this is a neighborhood in X nation without electricity? The location or time period of the neighborhood is never specified in the stimulus. Next, this AC equivocates "less important" with meaning "less frequently used". That's a terrible jump to make as well. Just because something becomes less important to me does not mean that I will use it less. For example, I've gotten more into the LSAT and as a result my lifting schedule has become less important. Does that mean that I lift less? No. It just means that I care less.

    Let me know what you think #Help

    Admin note: edited title

    https://classic.7sage.com/lsat_explanations/lsat-24-section-2-question-07/

    0

    What does "fully determined" actually mean on the AR section in games? My understanding, from watching the explanation for game 4 in PT 64, question 20, is that "fully determined" means that there are no other possibilities for any of the pieces to go. Is this accurate?

    0

    I'm taking the March LSAT this upcoming Saturday (3/30) but I'm nowhere near ready for the exam. I started studying in January and overestimated how much I could do while working FT and have only completed about 75% of the core curriculum and about 4-5 PTs (I started to try and do PTs since I was fast approaching the exam date).

    I'm averaging about 159 on my exams and can get up to 166 on BR (mostly because I can do LGs perfectly untimed but during the timed section I get anywhere from -5 to most recently -9). I don't have enough time to improve my score but I figured since it's my first time taking the test, I should still go and do so. However, should I worry about getting a score that is not reflective of my true ability? I know you can omit the score but I don't know how much it matters since it's evident schools don't average anymore.

    Help is appreciated! Thanks!

    0

    Hello,

    I’m having a bit of difficulty understanding when I should set up my game board as a grouping/sequence game board or an in out one. Prep test 35 game 3 and prep test 60 game 4 seem very similar to me but JY used different game boards for both. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

    0

    Confirm action

    Are you sure?